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Over the summer, the district required all its employees to read “The Energy Bus” by Jon Gordon. The book encourages people to have a positive attitude by detailing 10 rules to “fuel your life, work and team with positive energy.” Jon Gordon also spoke to the district and inspired them to choose one word to motivate them throughout the year.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][image_with_animation image_url=”5714″ animation=”Fade In” img_link_target=”_self”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][image_with_animation image_url=”5715″ animation=”Fade In” img_link_target=”_self”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][image_with_animation image_url=”5725″ animation=”Fade In” img_link_target=”_self”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][image_with_animation image_url=”5717″ animation=”Fade In” img_link_target=”_self”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]

Karen Gray WHAP, APHG, APEH

Shannon Whiteley PAP English 1

Michael O’Brien AP Calculus

Gary Ryman Astronomy, IPC

What did you get out of the Energy Bus?

“I didn’t really get anything new out of the book … But I do think it’s important to be reminded that you have to be a positive person, that negativity doesn’t ever get anything done.”

“The book was an extended metaphor about getting on the bus and letting Joy drive you, because that was literally the name of the bus driver. It was all about what you get out of your job is what you bring to it. “

“In general I’m not really a fan of self-help books. The underlying concept of the book was, in my opinion, pretty simple to understand. It was too redundant. When I don’t like something in my life, I always try to change it. The book didn’t inspire me to do that any more in my personal life or my career.”

“The concept of the book seemed very similar because I had already read a book in the ‘90s that had a comparable outlook. I really enjoyed Jon Gordon’s speech.”

How will you apply what you learned in the Energy Bus and his speech in your teaching?

“In my classes I try to stay very positive. Even if [my students] are struggling, I still feel like they will achieve something. We have to focus on the successes that they can achieve.”

“What [Jon Gordon] said in his speech connected with me because I feel like I do what he was saying. I feel like I really do build connections with my students. They aren’t just students to me.”

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“Our job as teachers and instructors is all about energy and excitement. If we don’t have any energy, or we aren’t excited, then how can we expect our students to want to do anything, much less care about what they are learning.”

What was your word?

PLAY“In AP classes, we are so focused on the test that we forget to have fun. My word is play because I want to remember that it’s not all about the test.”

INSPIRE“I want to inspire my students on a personal level. I want them to walk out of my class at the end of the semester inspired to learn more.”

“Having one word is too restrictive; it’s too broad.”

EXPLORE“If students are exploring what they are interested in, then they will be more excited to learn and more motivated to achieve success.”